Ever wonder why CBS/Fox show you a specific NFL game?

Quick answer. Whatever game they estimate will get the highest rating in your market.

Long answer. It’s complicated!

CBS selects a unique game for each of it’s 200 local affiliate stations.

Quote from Rob Correa — SVP of Programming @ CBS Sports.
In other words, it’s not as easy as, “Hey, everybody either really hates or really loves the Patriots, so let’s just put that game on everywhere.”

Other factors that they consider:
1) Home blackouts
2) Flexing
3) Cross flexing
4) Prime flexing
5) Constants
6) Mandatory pullouts
7) Primary markets
8) Secondary markets
9) Protected games.

The timing of selection (days out):
1) Initial list — 12
2) Final list — 6

The maps below show the 1:00 p.m. EST and 4:25 p.m. ESTgames by market during week 11.

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